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KAT: 



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THE GERMAN GAME 
OF CARDS. 



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Inscribed to all who love io 
trump their partner'' s tricks. 



NEW YOBK : 

B. WESTERMANN & c6. 

1886. 




\^M^\ \^MM P^M foj 



J 



KAT: 



THE GERMAN GAME 

OF CARDS. ^-^\.^.^\ 






Inscribea to all who love to 
trump their partner^ s tricks. 



-\o 



;>CT29i886' 



NEWYOBK: --^i^JSHi* 

B. WESTEEMANN & CO. :P ' 



.1.5G 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1886, by Ebkst Lemcke, in 
the Office of the Librarian of Congress at "Washington, D. C. 



^SKAT" 



REVIEWED, BY WAY OF A 



PREFACE. 



(.From the ''N. Y. Kaiiony' Nov. 4, 1886.) - 

Sk^t: the German Game of Cards. B. Westermann & Co. 
: At Coblenz, where tlie Moselle Eiver empties into the Khine, the 
yellow floods of the tributary are for miles distinguishable from 
the blue-green waters of the '^ coupe des nations," as Lamartine 
calls the German river. Similarly, German social life, with its 
pastimes and characteristics, remains a distinct feature in this 
cosmopolitan City of New York, into which the stream of immigra- 
tion empties its floods of Germans year after year. They become 
Americans soon enough, politically, commercially, industrially ; 
and Karl, Hemrich, and Hans are Charley, Harry and John, before 
they have mastered the language into which they are so eager to trans- 
late their names. But the best of them, the well-educated and 
gentlemanly, with no anarchist bent or other disqualification, do 
not sociaUy enter into the American- life, as a rule, for a generation. 
Neither do Americans take cognizance of the real social character- 
istics of their new brethren in politics. Of course, the well-to-do 



II 

of both nationalities meet on a footing of social equality at recep- 
tions, parties, and balls ; but who finds social pleasure where 
there is as little occasion for asserting one's individuality as there 
is elbow-room ? A large number of Americans attend the Lieder- 
kranz balls and can be met at the homes of wealthy Grermans. 
But these, in a great measure, have long ago divested themselves 
of the really characteristic home agrements of the Fatherland, and 
care little to do missionary work in opening up to Americans a vista 
of the hearth pleasures and the intimate social life of the German 
household. Indubiltably the German Gemuth does lend a charm to 
the enjoyment of life in the home circle, for there can be nothing 
more thoroughly enjoyable than a German Folterabend, Sylvester- 
night amusements, and the JulJdapp at the Christmas tree— which 
latter, as well as Moltke, has conquered even the hereditary enemy. 
We do not, of course, refer to the loud-mouthed Gemuthlichkeit of 
the ordinary and extraordinary Kneipgenie, which the average 
American is too apt to consider the charcteristic of the German. 

The late Friederich Kapp, indeed, was inclined to advise his 
countrymen to shu£Q.e o£f as soon as possible the German coil, and 
become Americans on landing here. One may be allowed to 
think, however, that the flavor of foreigness which an educated 
German diffuses in American homes is far from disagreeable to 
equally well-bred Americans, and that meeting as social peers, 
either should assimilate what is best in the other — that the yellow 
Moselle should merge in the blue Bhine, and vice versa — because 
nobody is so perfect, individual or nation, as not to find some- 
thing worth learning from another. If, as Goethe maintained, 
mastering a foreign language doubles one's individuality, how 
much more valuable would be the full knowledge of another Volks- 
seele, as it manifests itself in its most intimate social life. 

To come to our point, the card game of Skat is a feature of great 
magnitude in German social life, at the fire-side, and in the 
Stammkneipe, in whose dingy circumference his Excellency, the 
Privy Councillor; the Proffessor of Pehlevi; the general of the 
Army and the merchant prince, as well as the dii minorum gentium^ 



in 

meet at their Stammtisch for a game of Skat. "While this country 
is given up to lawn-tennis and other English sports, the great 
German community have so far not exerted themselves to bring 
their favorite pastime before the Americans, and the little 
pamphlet whose title we give above, is, we believe, the first attempt 
in this direction, and, consequently, possesses greater importance 
and significance than its slender size would betoken. Skat is a 
power in German life. Even "Wilhelmine Buchholz became one of 
its devotees at the first sitting, albeit in the uncongenial company 
of her son-in-law and his doctor friend, who explained its prin- 
ciples to her, withholding, however, as she asserts, the best tricks 
and slyest devices for their own advantage. But winning a Grando 
without four Matadors sweetens for her the dire confession that 
the card devil had secured a new victim. 



(From the ''Brooklyn Neue Freie Fresse.") 

— Tbanslation — 

(After referring to a Skat Congress held at Brooklyn): 

It is hardly necessary to assert that this event will leave its 
mark on the history of civilization. 

In Germany Imperial Skat (Reichs-Skat) is now the order of the 
day; it must soon be Universal Skat (Welt-Skat \ as the four Jacks 
are certain to conquer the world. A national association is now 
engaged in propagating this interesting game in America, in which 
endeavor a Skat-book in the English language, published by B. 
Westermann & Co., New York, will prove a substantial help. Com- 
piled from German sources, it is an excellent guide for learning 
how to play Skat. The translation into English of the technical 
Skat-terms is amusing: ®ie 33or^anb tt>irb geretjt — is driven, hid up, 
irritated. 3luf bte ^orfer ge^en is well hit by: visiting the hamlets. 
SGBimmeln is rendered by dumping. The compiler, however, slips 
up on the classical SQJauern, for which he finds nothing better than : 
io he overcareful, a rendering devoid of power and pith.* 



Indubitably, the little Skat-book will have its share in making 
Americans admirers of the four Jacks, and when once German-Ameri- 
cans and Anglo-Americans begin fleecing each other at the Skat- 
table, the last obstacle to a full harmony between the two. elements 
of population, dwelling together in the United States, must have 
been finally and forever removed. 



* The author of '•^S'iL^I', The Germ jti Ga ne of Cards," now suggests "to 
6?ocfc" for mauern, and at some future occasion will endeavor to do fuller justice 
to this part of his task which he considers quite as important, namely: with the 
game itself to present such social traits of his German countrymen as manifest 
themselves in the peculiar Skat-terminology in an English garb a^ piquant and 
pithy as he can give, and at the same time to enable American players, when 
joining a party of Germans, to master as much of the Skat-jargon as seems 
absolutely necessary to become Skat-players in full standing. Not the least part 
of the social enjoyment the German game affords, consists in the peculiar way 
of putting things and a skat-bopk not doing justice to its humor would be fall- 
ing sheriff realizing the author's final aim, touched upon at some length in 
the notice of his little book, reprinted from the If. Y. Nation: to teach his 
American-born brethren not the game only, but something better worth know- 
ing of things German than a game at cards merely, however interesting as 
such. - ; 

ERNST LEMCKE. 
Astoria, N. T., November lOfS, 1886. , - 



EKEATA : 

Page 5, 15th line, read: development. 

Page 15, 12th line, read: bids a Grando with or without one 
Matador. 

Page 22, 1st line, read: It is immaterial what 3d hand holds. 
Since 2d hand offered as high a game as Solo in spades, player 
'must . . . etc. 

Page 22, 6th line from bottom, read; differently by leading 
first Ace and Ten of hearts. 



EKEATA : 

Page 5, 15th line, read : development. 

Page 15, 12th line, read : bids a Grando with or without 
one Matador. 

Page 22, 1st line, read : It is immaterial what 3d hand 
holds. Since 2d hand offered as high a game as Solo in 
spades, player must etc. 



SKAT. 

THE GERMAN GAME OF CARDS. 



SOME recent experience in introducing this, as it may 
well be called, the national game of cards of the Ger- 
mans to American friends has proven beyond a doubt 
that its popularity in Germany to the almost entire ex- 
clusion of "Whist, L'hombre, Boston and all other card 
games, is not undeserved. The writer's friends took hold 
of it eagerly, mastered the apparent difficulties, when 
properly explained, very readily and after a few trials be- 
came great lovers of it. For it really is a most wonder- 
ful and interesting conception, wrought out with a sur- 
prising consequential application of its fundamental 
principle, affording greater variety and more possibilities 
in bringing out to the best advantage the individuality 
of each player, not hampered by an uncongenial partner, 
and in keeping the interest of those engaged in it longer 



*) PronoTince the a as in father. 



sustained than any other game of cards. Its devotees 
would scorn an invitation to a rubber of Whist, of which 
they think no better than a chess player does of dominoes. 
A congress of Skat players recently held at Altenburg, 
Saxony, the home of the game, has brought the noble 
pastime stiU more prominently before the public, so 
that the time seems propitious for introducing it to 
Americans more generally than can be done by individual 
players among a limited number of friends. With this 
object in view the following sketch has been compiled, 
in great part from the excellent German treatise " lUu- 
strirtes Skatbuch" (by A. Hertefeld ) Breslau, 1885, in which 
the game has been, so to say, codified, the rules there 
laid down now being more generally accepted than here- 
tofore, local and individual deviations becoming more 
and more merged into the " Reichs-Skat." 

Skat is of quite recent origin, shrouded already in 
myths. It is certain that it was first played by the 
farmers of the romantic country around the Wartburg. 
It bears a great resemblance to the Wendish game of 
" ScJiafskopf" (Sheepshead) and "Dreibein" (three legs). 
A Wendisch coachman, it is related, taught his employer, 
who in turn initiated a party of Taroc players among 
ivhom one F. F Hempel, a lawyer, took a prominent part 
in developing and settling the rules now governing the 
game. A party of students, on a pedestrian tour through 



Thuringia, there learned and transplanted it on the fruit- 
ful soil of their alma mater, whence it finally was spread 
over the fatherland and wherever Germans went, and can 
now, probably, be found eagerly played in the African 
colonies of Germany, the Sandwich Islands or, in fact, the 
world over where three Germans meet. It is hardly more 
than sixty years old. 

The name of Skat has been variously explained etymo- 
logicaUy. Some will derive it from Gothic Skatta, Anglo- 
Saxon Skatt, the modern German Schatz (treasure), be- 
cause two cards are put aside, being a treasure for one 
of the players. More plausible, though less learned and 
poetical is the derivation or corruption from Schqfskopf> 
or perhaps, as Taroc certainly had a great influence on 
the devolopment of Skat, from " Scart," one of the terms 
used in Taroc, a game of Italian origin, Scart from Scar- 
tare, meaning : to discard, an important feature in Skat. 
Matador is likewise a term used in Skat and taken from 
Taroc. 

The Principles of Skat : Three or more persons can 
play Skat ; three, however, are active only in each game, 
the others being " im Skat" discarded for the time till 
their turn comes. One hand plays the game against the 
other two and is '' the player," the other two playing joint- 
ly in opposition to him as partners. 

Skat is a game of points, not tricks. Two tricks may 



win, and eiglit may lose the game. The cards have a 
point value different from their trumping power. The 
game is played with a pack of piquet cards, 32, from the 
Seven up; in Germany mostly with the peculiar "Deutsche 
Karte" of odd and more often ugly than handsome design. 

The Jacks or Knaves, called " Wenzel,'' which seems to 
confirm the Wendisch origin of the game, " Bauer n" 
(Knaves), "Jungen" (boys), are the highest trumping 
cards, no matter which suit is made trumps, except in 
NuUo. 

Every player holds ten cards, two are laid aside "in the 
Skat." The use made of these two cards, called "the 
Skat," determines the two different styles of playing : 
with the Skat (simple game and Tourne), or : without 
the Skat (Solo, Nullo, Grando). 

Playing with the Skat : The "player" has the right to 
take these two cards and to discard two others which he 
can best spare, before beginning the game. Without the 
Skat : The "player" without taking the Skat, plays with 
the ten cards dealt to him, the two cards in the Skat, 
however, or the points they contain, being added to his 
score. 

The four suits are of graded value, clubs being the 
best, spades second, hearts third and diamonds fourth or 
lowest. The trumping power of the Jacks is in the same 
sequence. Jack of clubs always highest. Jack of diamonds 
lowest. 



The privilege oi playing the game is bid for at the be- 
ginning of each game. "Whoever offers to play in a better 
suit than all others, according to the order named, secures 
this privilege, and must score, of the 120 points repre- 
sented by all the counting cards, one more than half, 61 
points at least. With 60 points only, he loses ; with 30 
points he is '^ Schneider" or " geschnitten" (cut) ; with no 
count at all, he is " Sohwarz" (black = whitewashed). Con- 
sequently the two hands in opposition to the " player," 
scoring jointly 60 points, win the game from player ; 
scoring 30 are out of Schneider, but are Schwarz with no 
count. 

In order to find out who can play the game in a better 
suit than any other hand, the first hand, to the dealer's 
left, is driven or bid up {''wird gereizt" hterally : is 
irritated) by second hand, or if the latter is unable or 
unwiUing to offer a game, by third hand. The success- 
ful bidder becomes the player; winning, he is paid the 
cost of the game by all hands, active and inactive ; losing, 
he pays all hands. 

The number of possible combinations is exceedingly 
great. It has been computed that a party playing since 
the day of creation could not have exhausted them all. 
Hardly ever at one sitting will two games run alike. One 
single card in a different hand may turn the chances. Few 
games, very rarely dealt, are absolutely secure; some 



8 

lucky accident may win the weakest, or ruin the strongest 
hand. In Solo games the uncertainty about the trump- 
ing and counting value of the two cards in the Skat adds 
much to the possibilities for either side. 

Skat is a decidedly German game, though the outcome 
of a Slavonic-Italo-German alliance and is therefore, as 
stated, played with German cards. There is nothing, 
however, to prevent the ordinary French or Whist card 
being used. This is, in fact, done to a great extent, 
wherever German cards are unobtainable. The German 
card is as follows: ''Mcheln" or "Eclcern" (acorn) = clubs; 
"Gr'un" (green) = spades ; "Both'' (red) =: hearts ; "Schel- 
len" (bells) ^= diamonds. The point value of the cards 
of each su t is : Jacks = 2, Aces = 11, Tens = 10, 
Kings = 4, Queens = 3, or four times 30 = 120 points. 
Nines, Eights, Sevens do not count (Ladons). The Jacks, 
though highest trumps, count two points only in scoring; 
very properly so, according to the philosophy of the 
game. They enable the player to draw trumps without 
risking many points, the big point cards. Ace and Ten, 
remaining in reserve to be played after the Jacks are out 
of harm's way. 

The graded value of the four suits has been stated ; 
the hand, therefore, having a game with hearts for 
trumps, outbids the opponent who has diamonds. The 
Jacks are in the same sequence subordinated to each 



9 

other and are ihe four best trumps in all games, except 
Nullo, no matter -which suit is made trumps. Hence 
there are really seven cards only to each suit, the Jacks 
being, so to say, a suit by themselves, changing in each 
game to the trump suit and making trumps a suit of eleven 
cards. Three times seven = twenty-one and eleven = 
32 cards. The Jacks should, therefore, always be ranged 
by themselves in the players' hands, not with the suit of 
which they are taken, and after trumps are declared, be 
put with the trump suit. This will save beginners 
many serious mistakes. 

All trump cards, as far as they form an unbroken 
sequence in the "player's'' hand, from Jack of clubs down, 
are called ^'Matadors' and are of importance in computing 
the cost of each game. The two cards in the Skat being 
considered tJie player's, he may, therefore, hold eleven 
matadors, ten in his hand and one in the Skat or nine in 
his hand and two in the Skat. This would add eleven 
rates to the value of the game he plays. This sequence 
of Matadors counts only so far as it is unbroken. Player 
holding, for instance, eight trumps, 1st, 2d, 4th Jack, Ace, 
Ten, King, Queen, Nine, plays with two matadors only, 
the sequence being broken by the absence of 3d Jack. 
If he held this 3d Jack also, his would be a game with 
nine matadors. The gTeat puzzle for beginners in compu- 
ting the cost of a game comes from the peculiar fact that 



10 

an unbroken sequence of matadors held, just as well as an 
unbroken sequence of matadors not held by player, is 
counted in determining the cost of each game. Thus 
with 2d, 3d, 4th Jack, Ace, Ten, King, Queen, Eight, 
player has a game without one matador ; the same hand 
with 3d and 4th Jack would be without two; or a hand 
with Seven of trumps only, without ten; or a Solo hand 
with Ace, Ten, and all lower trumps but no Jacks, a game 
without four, a high game ; when finished, however, and 
the Skat is turned up, where the 2d Jack is found, it is 
without one only, worth much less. 

Playing the Game : The cards are well shuffled and 
cut. The first dealer is determined by dealing one card 
to each player until a Jack is on the table. The party 
receiving it deals the first round, five cards to each of the 
three active hands — if four play, the dealer remains in- 
active — then two cards " in the Skat,'' and again five to 
each player. The party to the dealer's left receiving the 
first cards, is " Vorhand " (first hand) ; the next second or 
middle hand; the last third hand (dealer, when three 
only play). After sorting the cards, suits together, in 
the order of the cards which, Nullo excepted, always is : 
Ace, Ten, King, Queen, Nine, Eight Seven, — Jacks by 
themselves — second hand begins the driving, offering a 
game to first hand, not necessarily in his best suit or the 
one he finally intends to make trumps, so as not to dis- 



11 

close his cards or prevent his playing in a better suit, if 
the cards found in the Skat warrant it. Supposing first 
hand passes when second hand offers a game in hearts, 
while he really intends to play in spades ; on taking the 
Skat, he finds that he can win in clubs, a still better game 
than spades. His having offered hearts does not prevent 
his playing any higher game but precludes his making 
trumps any suit inferior to the one he has committed 
himseK to in his bidding. He could not, in this instance, 
make diamonds trumps after taking the Skat, because he 
has offered hearts. If second hand holds no cards to 
warrant his bidding for the game, third hand does so ; if 
third hand also passes, first hand becomes " the player J' 
or may likewise pass, when he deals a fresh game. If 
two equally high games are bid, first hand has a better 
chance than second or third, and second than third. 

These being so far all simple games, second hand may 
wish to go further than simple game in clubs and may 
offer as the next higher : Tourne (turn up), which means 
that the successful bidder turns up one of the two Skat 
cards, showing it ; whatever suit this card happens to be, 
must be made trumps, whether welcome to the player or 
not. This is rather hazardous, as player may turn up a 
suit of which he holds not a single card. He also takes 
the second Skat card, without showing it, discards two 
and plays the game iu the suit which chance has made 
trumps. 



12 

Tourne is outbid by Solo in any suit, the suits again 
in their regular order. Solo in spades must yield to 
Ntdlo and Club Solo ranks higher than NuUo ; Grando 
beats Club Solo. The order of the games is later on 
given in tabulated form. 

Supposing second hand to be the successful bidder 
with Solo in clubs. First and third hand play against 
him. First hand always has the first lead. Every hand 
must follow suit under all circumstances as long as he 
can. Nobody is obliged to trump, but may as often as 
he is unable to follow suit. Player's object now is to se- 
cure 61 points, or more, by getting in his tricks as many 
high counting cards as possible. The object of first and 
third hands jointly is to prevent this. Two tricks of one 
Ace and two Tens each, footing up 62 points, are suf- 
ficient to win or lose the game. Player, 2d hand holds : 




4» 



dd 


Hand: 


* 















9? 





s 




o o 






O 



9? 9? 




7 'v' 

9 ^ 



13 

In the Skat: 



^ <? 

^ 
^ ^ 






First hand leads Ace of spades, player follows suit with 
Ten of spades ; third hand, out of spades, trumps with 
Ace of clubs, though the trick is his partner's. (1st trick, 
against player: 11 + 10 + 11 = 32 points). Third hand 
thereby secures the eleven points of Ace of trumps, which 
otherwise he would be compelled to play into player's 
trick as soon as the latter played a Jack. Third hand, 
having taken, now has the lead. He plays Ace of 
diamoDds. First hand trumps with Ten of clubs, player 
mustfoilow suit with unguarded Ten of diamonds (2d trick, 
against player: 11 + 10 + 10 = 31). Player loses the 
game in two tricks = 63 j)oints, although holding eight 
trumps (a ninth in the Skat) and making every trick left. 
Two bad cards {"Fehlkarten") lost him a Solo game in 
clubs, I ate of game 12 ; to which add : with four mata- 
dors (4 times 12 := 48), total GO points or chips, which 
amount he pays to each hand at the table. Had player 
with the above card been first hand, having the first lead, 
his game could under no circumstances have been lost. 
Having drawn out with a Jack, Ace and Ten of Trumps, 
and continued playing trumps in the expectation that 
one of the dangerous Aces might be thrown in his tricks, 



14 

or that failing, played Ten of spades, taken by Ace and 
third hand dumping ("wimmeln ") Ace of diamonds, so as 
to make the trick count 32, then player's Ten of diamonds 
would have been a good card, his opponents would have 
32 points only, losing the game but saving Schneider: Or 
player leading Ten of diamonds, next hand dumping Ace 
of hearts and third hand taking with Ace of diamonds, 
third hand would lead, in turn. King of diamonds, player 
throws away Ten of spades, next hand dumps Ace of 
spades, a trick of 25 points, added to 32 points in the 
previous trick, would make 57 points only against him, 
while he would win with 63 points. 

Nullo is a game, ranging between Solo in spades and 
Solo in clubs. Its object as well as mode of playing are 
ungermane to the general principles of Skat ; it is ap- 
parently an afterthought to afford an unusually poor hand 
a chance for turning bad luck to some account. The 
player must make no tricks at all. The cards in Nullo, 
and in Nullo only, are as in Whist : Ace, King, Queen, 
Jack, Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven. There are no trumps, and 
the Jacks take their places in their own suits. A single 
trick, taken by player, loses him the game and immedi- 
ately finishes it. 

Grando, on the other hand, is a Solo with this difference 
that the four Jacks only are trumps. The player must 
make 61 points, at least, and the game is played accord- 



15 

ing to the general rules. As a Jack played in any other 
game calls for trumps, in Grando Jack calls for Jacks. 
Grando outbids Solo in clubs. 

In playing Tourney the hand turning up a Seven may, 
before taking up the second card, play Nullo instead of 
the suit to which the Seven belongs, whichever suits his 
hand best. The same, on turning up a Jack, he may 
either make the suit of the Jack trumps or play Grando, 
in either case giving his decision before looking at the 
second card in the Skat. 

Nullo may also be played open and if so announced out- 
bids a Grando with less, or more than, one matador 
(Jacks, as in Grando the Jacks only are matadors). After 
the first trick player lays his hand open on the table, and 
his two opponents, without seeing each other's hands, 
may try to force his taking a trick. 

The most difficult part of the game is correctly to judge 
a hand dealt with a view of playing the most valuable 
game that can safely be expected to be won. To offer a 
high game with little or no chance of winning is as wrong 
a principle as playing a game inferior to what the hand 
can be made to yield. Experience alone can teach how 
to avoid either. 



16 



The Skat not being 
taken up during the 
game, its points - 
counting for player 
all the same. 



Solo, 



The Oeder and Valuation of Games : 

Simple Game, Diamonds, Eate or Cost 1 
Hearts, V* 2 

Spades, " 3 

Player taking up " Clubs, " 4 

the two Skat cards. Tourne, Diamonds, " 5 

Hearts, " 6 

Spades, *• 7 

Clubs, *« 8 

Diamonds, *' 9 

" Hearts, " 10 

Spades, " 11 

(Nullo20) 

Clubs, " 12 

" Grando, " 16 

(NuUo open 40) 

Grando, with or without two or more Jacks, 

(rate 16, but must at least cost 48, hence 

higher than Nullo open.) 

These rates are the first cost of the game played by the 
successful bidder and are reckoned in computing the 
cost of each game : a) once for the game ; b) as many 
times more as the player's hand held, or lacked matadors 
(possibly eleven times under b) ; c) as many times more 
as player made his opponents Schneider (1) ; Schwarz 
(1) ; or in Solo games gave notice before playing the 
first card that he would make them Schneider (1) or 
Schwarz (1) or both (possibly four rates under c) ; in all 



17 

at most 16 rates under a, 6, c. The announcement of 
Schneider is good for two rates, as Schneider is paid one 
rate, even if not announced. Hence an announced 
Schwarz includes Schneider (1); its announcement (1); 
Schwarz (1); its announcement (1) ; or four rates in all. 

Thus, a simple game in Hearts, with three matadors, 
player scoring 91 points, is worth : Game 1 ; three ma- 
tadors 3 ; Schneider 1 ; or five times 2, the rate of this 
game = 10 chips which player receives from each hand. 

Or : a Tourne in Spades, player holding 3d and 4th 
Jacks, scoring only 30 points, loses : Game 1 ; without 
two matadors 2 ; Schneider 1 ; four times seven = 28 
chips. 

Or : a Solo in clubs, player holding 1st and 4th Jacks, 
wins with 61 points : Game 1 ; with one matador 1 ; or 
twice the rate of 12 = 24 chips. 

Or : a Grando with 2d, 3d, 4th Jacks and announcing 
Schneider, making every trick, the 1st Jack being in 
the Skat : Game 1 ; four matadors 4 ; Schneider 1 ; 
Schwarz 1; Schneider announced 1 ; eight times 16 = 
128 chips from every hand. 

A club Solo with eleven matadors, which, of course, 
could announce Schneider and Schwarz, unless indeed the 
eleventh matador in the Skat were the best Jack, would 
be the highest possible game: 1+11+4 = 16 times 12 = 
196 chips from each player, a game which probably few 
players ever actually held. 



18 



All other games, lost or won, can be readily computed 
according to these models, taking the game always as 
one rate ; with (or without) so inany matadors — x ; 
Schneider, Schwarz, announcement of either, so many 
more rates = y ; hence, l-fxH-y = z, multiplied by the 
rate of the game in the above table. 

Nullo and open NuUo are sometimes valued 15 or 16 
and 30 or 32 respectively, a matter of special agreement 
between players. 

Hints fob Playeks : The following hand, for instance, 
would to many seem a doubtful Solo, on account of the 
four ''Felilkarten" which cannot possibly be made to yield 
for the player's score a single point. 



a 


•^ 




% 


x< 





9 9? 



O.<0> 









As a Grando, it would appear suicidal to an inexperi- 
enced player and yet, provided Flayer is first hand and has 
the lead, it is a Grando which cannot possibly be lost, no 
matter how the other cards are distributed. Player 
makes 6 tricks, drawing the 3d and 4th Jacks and playing 
his Aces and Tens. He gets from his opponents twelve 
cards a id the two c irds in the Skat, 14 cards. As there 
are only 12 Ladons (cards of no counting value) of which 
he holds himself four, six cards must be played into his 
tricks of some counting value. These six cards must be : 



19 

"2 Jacks = 4 points ; at least 4 Queens = 12 points, total 
16 points. His own hand yields him : 2 Jacks = 4 ; 2 
Aces = 22 ; 2 Tens = 20 ; total 46 with above 16 
points = 62, sufficient to win the game, a Grando with 
two, 3 times 16 = 48 chips. Quite different would be the 
result, if player held one single Queen among his " Fehl- 
karten,'' say Queen of hearts instead of Eight. He 
ivould get 9 cards of no value in his tricks and lose the 
^ame with 59 points. 

First hand most always has the best chance in Skat, as 
the first lead often is instrumental in winning a game 
which 2d or 3d hand must necessarily lose, as appears 
from the game described on page 13. 

The discarding in simple and Tourne games should be 
done carefully. Aside from the advantage of seeing 12 
-cards against his opponents' ten each, the player should 
try so to discard as to get his strong suit in a good firm 
sequence and rid his hand of one suit entirely to trump 
high cards. It is advisable to discard high counting 
cards, unless they are reasonably certain of making tricks 
in the run of the game. Even Ace and Ten of trumps 
are sometimes safer when discarded, their 21 points swel- 
ling the player's score just as well, if it becomes certain 
that the opponents can draw them out with Jacks. The 
following hand, for instance. 



20 




^ 4* 


9? 





0^0 

Ooo 



O 

oj 



playing Tourne, turns up Ace of diamonds (diamonds 
trumps) and King of hearts. He discards both Ace and 
Ten of diamonds, trusting to score 40 more points with 
his leading cards. Keeping Ace and Ten of trumps, he 
could not help losing them both if the other three Jacks 
and Eight or any other trump were in one hand against 
him. Ace and Ten of a long suit, not trumps, should 
also be discarded when King and Queen are also held 
as the latter are good if Ace and Ten are not in the 
game. Unguarded Ten should always be discarded. 

When first hand plays the game, trumps should be 
led. The leading cards of other suits are good only af- 
ter trumps are out. Even if weak in trumps, player 
should lead them to hide his weakness. If player has to 
rely on his leading cards exclusively and holds none or 
very few trumps, he may try to score his 61 points by 
playing out his Aces and Tens{"avf die Dorfer gehen" visit- 
ing the hamlets). 

Leading and playing the game, one against two, is in 
itself a double advantage. Player can make his play 
aggressive and knows exact^-y \io\sr many trumps his two 
opponents hold. When 2d or 3d hand plays the game> 
it becomes the player's first object to secure the lead. 



21 

The two hands in opposition have the hardest task. 
They know their own hand only and yet must tiy to act in 
unison. As there are really few games that cannot be 
broken by good play, their task is very interesting and 
should from the first be to break the player's trump 
force, not by leading trumps, however, which is advisable 
only when player is very weak in trumps. They must 
further try to get player between them, or prevent his 
being 3d hand. Player thus placed in the middle, 3d 
hand, playing after him, has a chance to dump (" wim- 
melri') cards of high value into every trick which player 
has not taken. All hands should always count the points 
in their tricks. An Ace or even King at a critical mo- 
ment dumped in a trick may win a game which, that last 
chance lost, may be beyond recovery. 

In Solo games the opposition should lead as many 
Aces as they hold, changing suit with every trick, as 
player has had no chance to discard. 

The following game may serve as illustrating how many 
things a wide-awake player has to take into considera- 
tion and how his play should be accommodated to cir- 
cumstances, disclosed by the driving. 

Player is first hand. 2d hand has driven him up to 
Solo in spades. First hand announces a Grando with 
this hand : 



22 




^^^ 
^ ^ 



2d Hand: 




1 


5? <9| 





Ooo 

















It is immaterial what 3d hand holds, since 2d hand 
offered as high a game as Solo in spades. Player must 
surmise that both Jacks and a strong suit are in 2d hand. 
If he loses sight of this and plays either Jack, 2d hand 
takes with the next higher, draws the other Jack from 
player, leads spades seven times and player, not know- 
ing what cards toward the last to throw away, and 
obliged to hold an Ace of a short suit, keeps Ace of 
diamonds. 2d hand plays Eight of hearts last, and 
player loses every trick and is made Schwarz. Cost of 
Game : Grando without one, Schneider and Schwarz,, 
4 times 16 = 64 chips. But bearing in mind the fact that 
2d hand is strong, an experienced player will manage 
differently by leading first Ace of hearts. 2d hand 
trumps with Jack of hearts and whether playing his 
spades or best Jack, player wiU keep one Jack to take 
the lead again and may possibly make his opponents 
Schneider, or if all goes against liim, lose some 30 points, 
but win his game. 



23 



Another game : Second hand gets the game with 





0% 






•5- 


@ 



and makes it diamond Solo ; there being only Ace, Ten 
and Nine of trumps in his opponents' hands, he an- 
nounces Schneider, being too careful to jeopardize a high 
game by announcing Schwarz. He not gjiIj loses Schnei- 
der, but does not even score 61 points, though 14 points 
in the Skat count for him, because 1st hand having Ten 
of spades fourth, plays it, 2d hand follows with Ace, 3d 
hand trumps with Ace of diamonds ; plays Ten of clubs, 
1st hand trumps wi?h Ten of diamonds and player fol- 
lows with Ace of clubs. 64 points scored by the opposi- 
tion; player loses: Game 1 with 4 matadors, Schneider 1, 
Schneider announced 1 or 7 times 9 = 63 chips. Played 
as a Grando his hand would have been good. 

The cost of the games is best paid in chips after each 
round. The chips generally in use are □ one, five, 
r~] twenty. Otherwise each player is credited or debited 
with the amount of each game won or lost and the 
balance struck at the end. 

Skat is a jolly and lively game, passing off quickly and 
fuU of surprises. The driving gives much occasion for 
wit and good humor. A player turning up the trump 



24 

card in Tourne, will rarely fail to say with one of the 
genial captains of the ocean steamers : I will risk it even 
if forever hereafter I should have to drink water, or some 
similar remark. "Mauern" ( to be overcareful i " Wim- 
meln" (dumping) are very expressive. '^The old hoy" 
i^best Jack), ^'the little one" (fourth Jack) and the alto- 
gether ridiculus terminology of Beer-Skat deserve a 
chapter by themselves, as this species is mostly culti- 
vated by students who impart to it all the buoyant spirits 
for which they are famous. It is a democratic game, 
too, and is said to have long been despised in court 
circles because in it a "Bauer" (Knave) is better than, a 
Xing. 

The following story, whether true or hen trovato, may 
fitly conclude this sketch. The professor enters the 
lecture room where he finds one single student. He 
gruffly asks whether it may not be best to dismiss the class 
for that day. Well, says Bruder Studio, I tell you what; 
let us wait a little, perhaps another fellow will show up 
and we can have a little Skat. 



The best Gerraan Books on Skat: 

lUustrirtes Skatbiicli. Theorie und Praxis des Skatspiels, mit zahl- 
reiclien durcli Kartenbilder illustrirten Beispielen und Aufgaben 
(von A. Hertefeld) $1.9U 

Bllllle, K. Allgemeine Dentsclie Skatordnung, 1886 25 cts. 

niustrirtes Lehrbuch des Skatspiels fiir Anf anger und Ge- 

iibtere, 1885 90 cts. 

Das Skal spiel, Anleitung zur Erlernung desselben nacb Form und 
Geist 40 cts. 

Schubert, H.j Das Skatspiel im Licbte der Wahrscbeinliclikeitsberech- 
nung, 1886 40 cts. 



OKRNlAISr SKAT" CARDS, 

after Prof. Ludwig Buegee's very handsome artistic designs, the originals 

of which are the property of the Crown-prince of Germany ; each card 

a beautifully executed picture : 

imported to order, per pack $1.60 ; in case $2.00 ; in neat chest $2.50 ; 
double pack in neat chest $4.00. 



WHIST" CARDS, 

after Prof. Doepler's designs, equally handsome and characteristic, im- 
ported to order : per pack $2.00 ; in case $2.50 ; in neat chest $3.00 ; 
double pack in neat chest $5.00. 



Chips best suited for Skat, in sets at $1.75 or $2.i 



B. WESTERMANN & CO., NEW YORK. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

iO 020 237 371 9 



